Due to a full week and time constraints, this article will be brief, but I trust meaningful, as I continue to think about prayer—particularly the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in Matthew 6:9–13.
As Stephen recently taught us, this prayer contains essential categories that Christians will include in their meaningful communion with the Lord. The “pattern” is to begin with God and his purposes (vv. 9–10) followed by our needs (vv. 11–13). At a basic level, it is clear that Jesus is teaching that, for God’s purposes to be accomplished, his people will need his provision. Let me flesh this out.
God’s purpose is that his name be adored (and, I might also argue, adorned and thus not taken in vain [v. 9]), his kingdom advance (v. 10a), and his revealed will accomplished on earth (v. 10b). But, interestingly, each of these petitions concerning God’s purpose will involve God’s people—Christians. Through our lives and by our lips, vv. 9–10 will be answered. And this is where vv. 11–13 come in. This is where our own petitions have significance. That is, for us to live for God’s glory, kingdom, and in accordance with his revealed will, we need to be fed daily bread for our “fuel” (v. 11), we need forgiveness (v. 12), and we need freedom from sin and Satan (v. 13).
Having seen these connections, I find it helpful when praying the Lord’s Prayer to try and think about these connections. Doing so gives a helpful structure to my praying, which heightens my focus, in several ways. It also helps me to pray longer.
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes find it difficult to concentrate when praying. My mind tends to wander. I can be praying, “Father, may your name be glorified to and through me today,” and the next thought is, “What time is that appointment today?” or, “Oops, I forgot to pay that account yesterday.” You are probably more spiritual than that but, because I struggle, I have found that using the Lord’s Prayer as a template helps my focus and my fellowship with the Lord when I pray. Here is a suggestion for using such a template.
“Hallowed be your name.” I often pray through the various names of God, applying their meaning to my life and that of my family and church family. For instance, “I praise you that you are Yahweh Jireh, God who sees beforehand and provides (Genesis 22:14).” Therefore, “Father, please provide work for _______________.” Or, “Yahweh Tsidkenu, the Lord who is my righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6),” and thus, “Father, I praise you for the gift of your righteousness through Jesus; please may _______________ come to know of this in his life.” The options are limitless. So google names of God as found in the Bible and pray through them.
Or take the second petition: “Your kingdom come.” I often pray, “Triune God, please help me today to bow to your good and sovereign rule in my life and in this world.” I then pray the same, with some specifics for family members and church members and others I know who are facing tough times.
When it comes to the third petition—“Your will be done on earth as it is heaven”—I ask the Lord to help me obey his revealed will found in his word and I pray this for others with specific reference to areas in their life.
Regarding the petitions relating to my own needs (vv. 11–13), I can do something similar. The point is that, by using the Lord’s Prayer as a pattern or a template to frame my adoration and requests, I am less prone to wander and my words seem more purposeful.
Stephen recently shared with me that he came across the suggestion to take one petition from the Lord’s Prayer for each day of the week. For that day, pray meaningfully about that one thing. Since there are seven days in the week, all petitions will be covered, providing you with the opportunity on the seventh day to include the doxology found in older translations: “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”!
In conclusion, I think that, if you learn to use the Lord’s Prayer as a template, you will find that the words “Sweet Hour of Prayer” will not simply be the title of a beloved hymn but a more regular reality in your life.
Doug